The countdown to SailGP’s 2026 campaign has officially shifted up a gear, and if CEO Russell Coutts is right, fans are in for a year where nothing comes easy and no podium place is guaranteed.
As the league expands to a record 13-team fleet, the high-octane championship is set to return to the turquoise waters of the Great Sound for the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix on May 9th - 10th, 2026.
The return to Bermuda marks a significant milestone in what Coutts describes as the league's "most fiercely contested era." After a fifth season that saw eight different teams claim event titles, the myth of a dominant "Big Three" has been firmly dismantled.
“With eight different teams winning events last season, it’s already extremely competitive,” Coutts said. “With the Artemis SailGP Team joining the fray, I’d expect them to be fighting for podiums straight away given the talent they’ve assembled.”
Bermuda has long been a "kingmaker" on the SailGP calendar, known for producing some of the most dramatic moments in the sport’s short history.
2024: The Spanish Sting: In the most recent visit, Diego Botín’s Spain SailGP Team stunned the heavyweights, executing a late dive to leeward in the final to snatch victory from Australia and New Zealand. It was the catalyst that eventually propelled Spain to their first-ever Season Championship.
2021: Ainslie’s Perfect Opener: Sir Ben Ainslie and Emirates Great Britain famously dominated the 2021 Bermuda opener, winning a winner-takes-all final by just four seconds over Tom Slingsby’s Australia.
The Practice Perils: The Great Sound is also remembered for its unpredictability; in 2024, the United States team was forced to withdraw before racing even began after a dramatic practice capsize caused significant wing damage.
Bermuda’s role as a host is more than just sporting; the 2024 event generated a reportedly staggering $14.1 million in total economic impact for the island and reached a global broadcast audience of over 13 million.
For the 2026 season, the Bermuda event will be the fourth stop in a global tour that begins in Australia and Rio de Janeiro. With the fleet reaching speeds nearing 100 km/h against the backdrop of the iconic Great Sound, the May fixture is expected to be a pivotal "moving day" for the Season 6 standings.
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